SOUTH Cheshire is in line for a large share of a £44m investment in affordable housing to help families struggling to get on to the property ladder and boost the local economy.

The funding, which will be delivered by the Government's national affordable homes agency, the Housing Corporation, will go towards building more than 1,000 homes throughout the county as part of the three-year National Affordable Housing Programme, which will run until 2011.

No exact details of how much money the boroughs of Crewe and Nantwich and Congleton will receive or how many homes will be built have yet emerged, but Government ministers said the funding will help double the amount of affordable housing planned for the two districts.

The news follows the dramatic decision last month to scrap plans for a 7,000home “eco-town” at Wardle, near Nantwich, after huge public protests.

Housing minister Caroline Flint said it was important to ensure future generations of home buyers are able to get a foot on the property ladder.

“We need more homes to ensure first-time buyers and families have decent, affordable housing to buy or rent.

“This money will go towards doubling the amount of sustainable homes being built over the next three years and will increase the number of family-sized and rural homes.”

The scheme will see a combination of large, family homes and homes for elderly and vulnerable people built in both rural and urban areas.

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council leader Cllr Brian Silvester said: “The provision of affordable housing to rent and buy is one of our top priorities.

“We are making progress and the numbers are increasing but we have not yet hit the targets that we want to reach.”